India is gearing up for its next challenge in the ICC ODI World Cup 2023, this time facing Afghanistan. The 9th match of the tournament, IND vs AFG is scheduled to take place at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on October 11th, with the action set to kick off at 2 PM.
India commenced their World Cup 2023 journey on a high note, securing a resounding win against the formidable five-time champions, Australia. The backbone of that victory was the stellar performance of India’s spinners, who dismantled the Australian middle order, restricting them to a modest total of 199.
Captain Rohit Sharma’s decision to keep Mohammad Shami on the bench paid off handsomely, as the likes of Ravindra Jadeja and company bagged six crucial wickets. India’s innings, though, began with a setback as both openers were dismissed without scoring a run.
However, the batting prowess of Virat Kohli (85) and KL Rahul (97*), who both notched up brilliant half-centuries, ultimately steered India to a convincing 6-wicket victory.
On the other hand, Afghanistan faced an early setback in the World Cup, facing a defeat against Bangladesh by 6 wickets. Batting first, Afghanistan managed to post a total of 156 runs, thanks in large part to their opener, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who contributed 47 runs.
However, Afghanistan struggled to cope with the Bangladeshi spinners during the middle phase of the game, losing eight wickets for a mere 44 runs. Although the Afghan bowlers made an impressive start by dismissing both Bangladeshi openers within the first five overs, they couldn’t replicate their success against the opposition’s spinners.
Against Afghanistan, India is unlikely to face a situation where Rahul needs to rescue them with the bat. Additionally, the all-round capabilities of Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja provide a significant advantage to the Indian side.
Afghanistan’s struggles in the World Cup have been primarily due to their vulnerability against spinners. The team faces issues with both their bowling depth and the poor form of Rashid Khan, presenting a challenge.
The recent pitch reports at the Arun Jaitley Stadium are expected to provide more bounce and assist the batsmen in hitting through the line. In a recent match at this venue, South Africa managed to post a huge score of 428/5, indicating the potential for high-scoring encounters.
However, dew might emerge as a concern, potentially influencing the captain’s decision to chase under the floodlights if they win the toss. The conditions in Delhi promise an intriguing battle between two talented teams with different strengths and strategies.
IND vs AFG Probable XI
India: Rohit Sharma (c), Ishan Kishan, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravichandran Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj
Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi
Also Read: ICC ODI World Cup 2023: 3 Vice-Captain Choices For IND vs AFG